Warren De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris committed to be a Wolverine in May 2011 and has recruited others. / JARRAD HENDERSON/Detroit Free Press

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The fax machine will start humming early today in Schembechler Hall, when the bulk of Michigan's 2013 football recruiting class makes verbal commitments official.

It's the first day of the national signing period, but for this U-M class -- ranked No. 1 nationally by Scout.com, No. 6 by Rivals.com and No. 5 by ESPN.com entering the day -- today is just a formality.

The bulk of this large class of 27 was bonded many months ago as all but six players were committed before last fall's season started.

"That was huge," said Ben Gedeon, a linebacker from Hudson, Ohio. "We've all been talking to each other for six months now. That's definitely going to set us apart."

This was the first class the Michigan coaching staff has been able to put in a full two-year recruiting cycle, allowing the coaches to create a bond and the players to enhance it in the world of social media.

Following their future coach Brady Hoke's moniker, the recruits spent those many months referring on Twitter to "Team 134," the 2013 version that will be their freshman year this fall.

Their bond has certified over the year, fueled by the class' first commit, Warren De La Salle quarterback Shane Morris, who pledged in May 2011 and helped land the most recent commitment, Richmond, Va., elite running back Derrick Green, on Jan. 26.

The early commitments began working to sell the later commits. Among the most surprising part: The class stayed mostly intact. Only cornerback Gareon Conley decommitted and left the class.

When the players in the class talk to their prep teammates or friends they met at high school All-Star games, they're surprised every other school's experience isn't the same as theirs.

"They say they know most of the players, but they don't know them personally," Detroit Crockett tight end Khalid Hill said. "We know each other personally. They say they're kind of distant, but we're all together, we're all tight as a class. We're real tight."

Hill spent his final unofficial week with a few of his soon-to-be teammates -- Gedeon and Cass Tech players David Dawson and Jourdan Lewis -- in Austin, Texas, with Team USA for Tuesday's International Bowl. They will all sign today in Texas.

The bonding experience has encouraged Hill about what's to come. Today, 21 players are expected to sign and join the six others who enrolled at the start of January.

"Getting to know each other, it's gotten better," Hill said. "We got more chance to talk to each other and hang out on our official (visit) and got to chill with each other. It was most of the class."

A large number of the commits came to Ann Arbor the weekend of Dec. 15 and, though nearly all were solid in their commitment, it strengthened their resolve.

It began with Morris, which is often how these elite classes emerge.

"Usually the quarterbacks, they don't have as much to wait for," said Tom Lemming, analyst for CBS Sports Network. "The QBs, that's why they commit early. College coaches identify them early. Morris is a personality, and the kids flock to him. The early commits helped immensely, getting kids familiar with the staff and each other. It helped get (Rivals' No. 1 running back) Derrick Green."

That has propelled this to become the highest-ranked U-M class since 2005 by the Rivals.com count.

"Coming to camp with guys and a relationship is huge," said Gedeon, who has formed a relationship with Baltimore-area defensive tackle Henry Poggi, who reportedly visited Alabama in January but has not publicly wavered from his U-M commitment. "It's definitely going to set us apart down the road."